The gospel on celebrity and pop culture

Richie Sambora in rehab; Bon Jovi to tour without him

Richie Sambora may have fallen off the wagon, but the show will go on for a supportive Bon Jovi.

Guitarist Sambora is checking into rehab to treat his exhaustion and deal with sobriety issues, RadarOnline reported.

In a statement on the rock band's website, Bon Jovi said it will proceed with its upcoming tour without Sambora.

"Our support for Richie is absolute," the statement said. "He is, and will remain, a member of Bon Jovi. Although he will be absent from upcoming shows for the time being, we very much look forward to his healthy return. In the meantime, we will keep our commitment to our fans and continue our tour."

The group kicks off its North America tour Saturday in New Orleans before heading to Europe in June.

This isn't Sambora's first stint in rehab.

The rocker, who spoke about his addiction to painkillers in the Bon Jovi documentary "When We Were Beautiful," checked into rehab twice in 2007 -- the year his divorce from Heather Locklear was finalized, his father died from lung cancer, and he split with girlfriend Denise Richards.